LONG TERM STORAGE FOR

FOOD SECURITY - PICS BAGS

more than Malawi’s economy depends on the agriculture sector. Among the
main crops grown for consumption in Malawi are maize, beans,
soya and groundnuts. Malawian smallholder farmers suffer

40% post-harvest loss of more than 40% of their total harvest once in
storage due to weevils, termites, fungi and other hazards.

of harvest lost For most of the farmers, the appropriate pesticides to secure
in storage their harvest are likely to be out of their price range.

The Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bag was developed to address this
need to protect harvested crops. It is a low cost effective solution to post harvest losses. The
bag has two linings of high-density polyethylene on the inside and an outer layer of woven
polypropylene; the two layers together cut oxygen supply to the grains, which ensures pests
do not survive.

For the 2018/2019 season LLTC has supplied all contracted

farmers with 3 PICS bags per hectare of food crop (grain)
grown. By December 2018, LLTC had distributed 58,000 bags to

58,000
PICS Bags Distributed
its contracted farmers. For the same period, LLTC contracted
farmers received over 17,000 packs of bean seed, 15,000 packs
of groundnut seed and 19,000 packs of maize seed.

The PICS bags help avoid or mitigate post-harvest losses on grain crops. LLTC also provided
training to the farmers on the proper use of the bags. By securing grains after harvest,
farmers not only have enough food, but they can sell off the excess at good value due to the
high quality of the grain and in this way they improve their livelihoods.